A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
18 
At all great functions, both during the processions or while 
performing the services, the priests were crowned with flowers. 
This was specially the custom at St. Paul’s, 1 in London ; and 
when, on June 30th, 1405, Bishop Roger de Walden was in¬ 
stalled there, he and the Canons of the Cathedral walked in 
solemn procession, wearing garlands of red roses. 2 Some land 
in Essex was leased in 1274 by Henry de Borham, Dean of 
St. Paul’s, to a kinswoman for the yearly rent of a chaplet of 
roses at the Feast of St. John the Baptist. 3 Perhaps he wore 
the crown thus supplied during his tenure of office. 
The use of these “ coronae sacerdotales,” or wreaths worn by 
the priests on feast days, continued for many centuries, 4 and 
their prevalence up to the time of the Reformation is apparent 
from various churchwardens’ accounts. These entries, however, 
are not frequent, as the gardens attached to the churches were 
evidently, as a rule, able to supply sufficient flowers for ordinary 
use, and it was only for great occasions, or on special feast-days, 
when larger quantities were required, that they had to be bought. 
For instance, at St. Mary Hill, where some entries are found 
in the accounts, there was a garden near the church. 5 
A.D. 
1483-1497. St. Mary Hill. Churchwarden’s Account: “For birch at 
Midsomer, 8d.—Box and palme on Palmesonday, is.—Polis on 
Estir evyne, iod.—Garlondes on Corpus Christi day, iod.—A 
dozen and a half rose garlondes on St. Barnebe’s day, 8^-d.— 
for rose garlondis and wodrove garlondis on Seynt Barnebe’s 
day, 1 id.—for two doss, di bocse garlondes for prests and 
clerkes on St. Barnebe daye. 
1510. For palme flowrys and cake on Palme Sunday, iod. 
Also at St. Martin Outwich, London, 1524 : 
Item—For rose garlands on Corpus Christi day, 6d.—Item—For 
byrche at Midsomer, 2d.—Item—For rose garlands, brede, 
wyne, & ale on ij Sent Marten’s days, 15^-d.—Item—For holy 
and ivy at Chrystmas, 2§d. 
1525. Paid for palme on Palme Sunday, 2jd. Paid for brome ageynst 
Ester, id. Payd for rosse garlonds on Corpus Christi daye, 6d. 
1 Polydore Vergil, De rerum Inventoribus, lib. ii. 
2 Historia de Episcopis et Decanis Londiniensibus , by H. Wharton, 
1695. P- I 5 °- 
3 “ Unam capellam rose,” Ancient Deeds Record Office, A6458. 
4 “ Ceremonial Use of Flowers,” Nineteenth Century, 1880. 
6 Nichols, Illustrations of the Manners and Expenses in England . . . 
deduced from Accounts of Churchwardens , etc ., 1797. 
